Carrier accessory for beverages

ABSTRACT

1. A CARRIER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING. A TUBULAR CONTAINER OF HEAT INSULATING MATERIAL HAVING AT LEAST ONE OPEN END CLOSED BY A REMOVABLE END CAP, MEANS FOR SECURING SAID END CAP REMOVABLY IN POSITION TO CLOSE AND SEAL THE OPEN END OF SAID CONTAINER, A CONTAINER BRACKET HAVING A BASE, CONFIGURED TO ENGAGE AND BE SECURED TO AN OUTER WALL OF SAID CONTAINER, AND HAVING AN ELONGATED PLANAR RIB PROJECTING FROM SAID BASE TO BE POSITIONED IN A RADIAL PLANE OF SAID TUBULAR CONTAINER, SAID RIB HAVING A LINEAR DISTAL EDGE PARALLEL TO SAID BASE, MEANS FOR SECURING SAID CONTAINER BRACKET TO SAID CONTAINER, A SUPPORT BRACKET COMPRISING CONFORNTING CLAMPING PORTIONS, EACH DEFINING AN ELONGATED GROOVE FOR ENCLOSING A PORTION OF A TUBULAR MEMBER OF A SUPPORTING STRUCTURE AND EACH DEFINING AN ELONGATED NARROW CLAMPING FLANGE, SAID CONFRONTING CLAMPING FLANGES HAVING AT LEAST ONE PAIR OF ALIGNED HOLES, AND BOLT AND WING NUT MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID HOLES FOR CLAMPING SAID CONFRONTING PORTIONS TO SAID TUBULAR MEMBER, SAID SUPPORT BRACKET CLAMPING FLANGES DEFINING AN ELONGATED SLOT DISPOSED IN A RADIAL PLANE OF THE SUPPORTING TUBULAR MEMBER TO RECEIVE SAID CONTAINER BRACKET RIB, SAID RIB HAVING AT LEAST ONE ELONGATED MOUNTING SLOT OPENING ADJACENT TO SAID DISTAL EDGE AND EXTENDING GENERALLY PARALLEL TO SAID DISTAL EDGE, AND SAID SLOT BEING CONFIGURED TO ACCOMMODATE A BOLT MEANS OF SAID SUPPORT BRACKET, WHEREBY SAID CONTAINER BRACKET IS SECURED TO SAID SUPPORT BRACKET AND IS READILY DISENGAGE THEREFROM.

Oct. 29 1974 United States Patent [19] Chambers Attorney, Agent, or Firm- Peter J. Murphy, Cecil L. Wood g, Te gton, Tex.

[57] ABSTRACT An insulated container for beverage containers, such [22] Filed: May 22, 1972 [21] Appl. No.2 255,737

as cans or bottles, includes a tubular insulated housing 8 and bracket means for removably securing the housin 224012 25 333 to ambular Supporting member Such as a golfcan I]. I handle A Support bracket is Semi permanently [58] meld 224/29 R 29 B 29 E 30 R clamped to the golf cart handle, and this handle 224/30 A, 36, 41, 39 A, 24253 3 28 bracket has a golf ball holder rigidly attached thereto.

A container bracket is secured to the container hous-.

ing, and has a rib extension for coacting engagement with the support bracket whereby the container bracket and support bracket are removably attached to each other. The container bracket rib includes a hand slot for carrying the container when detached from the golf cart, and which functions as a towel slot when attached to the golf cart. The container bracket rib also includes suitable golf tee retaining holes.

224/29 B 248/229 224/29 B 224/29 B mm NW "N m m.mm d m mm BA n" P mL m C s S "tum QB 0: cT mnHe n a d e hnn rT o o .RSMBVB D E79 7 6655 19999 NHHHH U45m2 8748 0700 t t t t M mm 38 U 3 2 2 2 11 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-Kenneth Noland CARTER ACCESSORY FOR BEVERAGES BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a portable carrier for selective attachment to a golf cart, and more particularly to such a carrier including an insulated container for beverages and for carrying golfing articles.

For golfers who desire to carry chilled canned or bottled beverages on a golfing round, there is a problem in transporting the beverages and maintaining them in a suitable chilled condition for maximum enjoyment. While means may be devised for packing such beverage containers in a manner to keep them cool and possibly for tying them or otherwise securing them to a golf cart, there remains the problem of ready accessibility to such beverages without the necessity for unwrapping an insulation material for example and for rewrapping the material to maintain the temperature of the remaining beverage containers. Another problem with makeshift devices for this purpose is that the golfer may wish to consume only a portion of a 12 ounce container for example, and replace the partially consumed beverage container in the package to maintain its chilled condition. A further difficulty with such makeshift arrangements is the inconvenience of securing the beverage package to the golf cart and removing it therefrom, particularly in situations where the golfer leaves his clubs and cart at the golf course, for example.

A principal object of this invention is to provide a carrier accessory which is readily portable so that it may be precooled and loaded with chilled beverages, at the golfers home for example and readily secured to the golfers cart or other support at a different location.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a carrier accessory which may be readily adjusted on the golfing cart to place it in the most convenient position for use during the golfing round and in another position to facilitate the collapse or folding of the cart during storage.

A further object of this invention is to provide a carrier accessory for beverage containers, which also includes means for carrying in conveniently accessible position golfing articles such as balls, tees and towels.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a portable insulated carrier for carrying stacked beverage containers, including means for readily removing the beverage containers from the carrier.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a carrier of the type described which may be economically manufactured, which is sufficiently rugged in construction for the intended use, and which presents a pleasing appearance.

For accomplishing these objects a carrier assembly, particularly adapted for a golf cart, comprises a tubular container of heat insulating material having at least one open end closed by a removable end cap, and including means for securing the end cap removably in position to close and seal the open end of the container. A container bracket includes a base configured to engage and be secured to an outer wall of the container, and a projecting longitudinal rib. Means are provided for securing the container bracket to the container. A support bracket includes confronting clamping portions, each defining an elongated groove for enclosing a portion of a tubular support member. The confronting bracket portions have at least one pair of aligned holes on one side of the elongated grooves; and bolt means are provided extended through these holes for clamping the confronting portions to the tubular member. The support bracket defines an elongated slot disposed in a radial plane of the tubular member to receive the distal edge of the container bracket rib; and the rib has at least one mounting slot opening adjacent to the distal edge configured to accommodate one bolt means of the support bracket, whereby the container bracket is secured to the support bracket.

More particularly the support bracket includes bolt and wing nut means for securing the container bracket whereby the container and container bracket define a subassembly which is readily disengaged from the support bracket. The container bracket rib may include a handle slot for easy portability of this assembly.

The novel features and the advantages of the invention, as well as additional objects thereof, will be understood more fully from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the overall carrier assembly shown mounted on the handle of a golf cart, which is shown in phantom lines;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the several components of the carrier assembly;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the assembly, taken in the plane 33 of FIG. 1 looking toward the bottom of the assembly as mounted on a golf cart;

FIG. 4 is a transverse section view of one end cap for the container; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a beverage container, such as a can and a plastic cap for the beverage container, which might be carried in the carrier container.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, a preferred form of carrier accessory according to the invention has several components including a container 10 for receiving and carrying a plurality of beverage containers such as cans for beer or carbonated beverages, a container bracket 20 secured to the container 10, a support bracket 30 configured to be semipermanently attached to a tubular member, such as the handle of a golf cart, and to which the container bracket'is removably attached, and a ball holder 40 attached to the support bracket 30 defining a convenient container for golf balls for example. While the described carrier accessory includes features which are particularly adapted for and useful for golfers when the accessory is attached to the handle of a golf cart, for example, it will be appreciated that this accessory is not limited to that use and may be come niently attached to other supporting structures.

Referring now to the structure of the carrier in more detail, the container 10 for storing the beverage cans or other containers 60 includes a hollow tubular housing made up of an outer skin or wall 11 fabricated of a plastic sheet material such as polyvinylchloride, and an inner wall 12 of insulating material such as expanded styrofoam. The inner wall surface is sufficiently rugged to resist deterioration due to the sliding movement of the cans 60 or other beverage containers which might be stored in the container 10.

Lock rings 13 fabricated of a suitable plastic material may be suitably secured to the outer wall lll at the ends of the container by means of rivets for example; and these lock rings include angled ribs 14 defining threads for securing an end cap 16.

As best seen in FIG. 4, the end caps 16 are cupped shaped members fabricated of molded polyethylene for example, and having internal angled ribs 17 defining threads for coacting engagement with the thread ribs 14. A layer of insulation material 18 such as expanded styrofoam is secured to the end wall of the end cap to complete the insulation of the container 10. It will be seen then that the end caps are readily removable for inserting and removing beverage containers from the container 10.

The container bracket 20 defines a handle member for conveniently carrying the container 10 when detached from a supporting structure, and also defines the means for attaching the container to a supporting structure as will be described. The container bracket may comprise an integral extruded aluminum member having a base pad 21, defining a cylindrical surface for mating engagement with the cylindrical outer wall of the container 10, and including a transverse rib 22 projecting from the base in a radial plane relative to the cylindrical surface. The rib includes a pair of slots 23 opening to, or adjacent to the distal edge 22a of the rib, a portion at least of the slots extending generally parallel to the distal edge for accommodating bolt means of the support bracket to be described.

The container bracket is preferably secured to the container wall 11 both by an adhesive means 24 and by a pair of straps 25. As best seen in FIG. 3 a double faced pressure sensitive adhesive pad 24 may be secured to the cylindrical wall of the container bracket base 21, and this will in turn adhere to the container wall 11 when the bracket is placed in engagement therewith. To further retain the container bracket with the container, the bracket rib is provided with slots 26 to accommodate straps which encircle the container 10 overlying the ends of the container bracket base 21. These straps may be secured by means of conventional lock type buckles for example, to tightly engage the bracket.

As best seen in FIG. 2 the container bracket rib is provided with an elongated hand slot 27 so that the rib defines a convenient handle for carrying the container 10 in detached or portable condition. The periphery of the hand slot may be lined with a suitable liner, if desired, for convenience. In assembled relation with a golf cart, as seen in FIG. 1, this hand slot 27 may conveniently serve as a towel slot retaining the towel for the convenience of the golfer. Additionally, the container bracket rib is provided with a plurality of holes which may be lined with resilient grommets 28 dimensioned to retain golf tees, again for the convenience of the golfer.

The support bracket 30 consists of a pair of clamping portions or members 31, which are mounted in confronting relation to be clamped around a tubular member 71 such as the handle of the golf cart 70. As best seen in FIG. 2 the clamping members 31 are elongated plates, each having an intermediate semi-cylindrical portion defining an elongated groove and defining planar flanges 31a and 31b on opposite sides of the cylindrical portions. The lower flanges 31a are provided with two pairs of transversely aligned holes for accommodating bolt means such as machine screw and wing nut assemblies 33', and the upper bracket flanges 31b are also provided with two pairs of transversely aligned holes for accommodating bolt means such as machine screw and nut assemblies 32 as seen in FIG. 3.

The cylindrical grooves of the clamp members 31 may be dimensioned to particularly accommodate a tubular member having an outside diameter of 7/8 inch for example which might be a more or less standard dimension for golf cart handles. Also shown in FIG. 2 are shims 35 which may be fabricated of a suitable plastic material and provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive on the outer surfaces for example. These shims might be cemented to the bracket to adapt the bracket to readily accommodate a tubular support member 71 of slightly smaller outside diameter as 3/4 inch, for example.

As best seen in FIG. 2 the slots 23 of the container bracket rib are disposed to mate with the screws of the wing nut assemblies 33, so that the rib 22 is readily inserted in the slot defined between the support bracket flanges 31a whereby the container bracket is rigidly secured to the support bracket through tightening of the wing nuts 33.

As an added feature of the carrier assembly, a ball holder 40 may be fabricated as an extrusion of a suitable plastic material such as polyvinylchloride; this ball holder consisting of an elongated semi-cylindrical hollow body having a slot along one side to define a cavity of about 240 for example, and having projecting rib means defined by a pair of ribs 42 disposed generally in a radial plane. In the preferred illustrated form, these ribs 42 define an elongated groove which accommodates the upper flanges 3lb of the support bracket 30. The ball holder ribs 42 are provided with two pairs of aligned holes dimensioned for alignment with pairs of aligned holes of the ribs 31b so that the ball holder may be secured to the support bracket by means of the screw nut assemblies 32, as best seen in FIG. 3.

The internal diameter of the body 41 is of course of a dimension to readily accommodate standard size golf balls 46', and these balls are retained within the holder by means of springs 45 secured to the body 41 at the ends of the holder and bridging the ball holder slot. These springs are readily deflected for inserting and removing balls from the holder.

While the support bracket 30 is described as a two piece member, it will be appreciated that it may be a one piece member fabricated of flexible vinyl or other plastic for example and defining confronting clamping portions 31 having the lower flanges 31a defining the slot for the rib 22.

It will now be seen that the support bracket 30 and ball holder 40 are semi-permanently attached to the tubular member 71 by means of the screw nut assemblies 32 and the screw wing nut assemblies 33. By merely loosening the wing nuts 33 the support bracket may be either longitudinally or rotationally shifted on the tubular member as desired. It will also be seen that the subassembly of the container 10 and container bracket 20 are readily attached to and removed from the support bracket 30 again by merely loosening the wing nuts 33 and inserting or removing the rib 22 relative to the slot defined by the support bracket flanges 31a. This means that the container subassembly is readily removed from the golf cart when the golf cart is not in use and is stored at a golf club or in the trunk of the golfers car for example. At the time of a golf outing, the container is readily pre-cooled if desired and loaded with precooled beverages, and readily carried by the golfer for assembly with the golf cart prior to beginning the round.

If it is desired to leave the container assembly with the cart, it may be necessary to rotate the entire carrier assembly relative to the handle in order to accommodate the collapse or folding of the golf cart, and this also is readily accomplished mainly by loosening the wing nuts 33.

Additionally, the carrier may be used with a rental golf cart, since the support bracket is readily mounted with simple tools.

Another feature of the container is the rack 50 disposed within the container for ready removal of the beverage cans 60 for example. As best seen in FIG. 2 this rack 50, fabricated essentially of a U-shaped heavy gauge wire, consists of an elongated spine 51 having a foot 52 at one end defined by the transversely bent ends of the wire and held in spaced relation by a spacer member fabricated from a suitable plastic or metal. The bridging portion of the wire, at the end remote from the foot 52, defines a loop or handle 53 adapted to be grasped by the golfer. This rack is of a length only slightly less than the longitudinal dimension between the inner surfaces of the container end caps 16 and is inserted with the foot end down prior to inserting the beverage containers.

When three cans 60 for example are stored within the container 10 these cans are relatively closely confined by the walls of the container; and the handle 53 extends just sufficiently above the top most can to enable the golfer to lift the stored cans and grasp the uppermost can for removal from the container. In this manner all of the beverage cans are readily removed from the top of the container. Alternatively, and less conveniently, if the rack is not used the lower end cap may be removed and the lowermost beverage can then removed as it drops from the container.

What has been described is a carrier which is particularly adapted for attachment to a golf cart for carrying a number of items desired to be readily accessible during a golf round, namely a plurality of beverage containers. golf balls, golf tees, and a towel.

A particular feature of the carrier assembly is that the container and container bracket define a portable subassembly which may be used independently of the golf cart for transporting precooled beverages, or which may be conveniently used for preloading the container with cooled beverages in the golfers home and then conveniently carrying it to the golf course for subsequent attachment to the golf cart. For this purpose the container bracket performs a dual function of serving as a convenient handle for carrying the container 10 and also as an attachment bracket, coacting with the support bracket on the golf cart handle for readily securing the subassembly to the golf cart and later removing it therefrom.

While the support bracket is semi-permanently attached to the golf cart member, it is readily loosened by loosening the same wing nuts, which function to re- 6 lease the container-container bracket subassembly, to

effect rotation or longitudinal shifting of the support bracket. This may be desirable at the time of storing the golf cart to accommodate the collapsing or folding of the golf cart to the storing condition. Another feature is that the support bracket attaches easily to the golf cart without the necessity for any special tools, merely conventional pliers for example, so that the entire carrier assembly may be attached to a rental golf cart, if that is desired.

Still another feature of the invention is the beverage rack which provides for ready removal of the beverage containers from the upper end of the carrier container. Similarly if it is desired to replace a partially consumed beverage container this may be recovered with a suitable cover such as a plastic cap 61 and reinserted into the carrier container through the use of the rack. Alternatively, if the construction of the golf cart prevents ready removal of beverage containers from the upper end of the carrier container, the beverage containers may be removed from the lower end by removal of the lower end cap.

Another particular feature of the carrier is that the hand slot in the container bracket functions as a convenient retaining means for a towel or jacket when the subassembly is secured to the golf cart.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A carrier assembly comprising a tubular container of heat insulating material having at least one open end closed by a removable end cap; means for securing said end cap removably in position to close and seal the open end of said container;

a container bracket having a base, configured to engage and be secured to an outer wall of said container, and having an elongated planar rib projecting from said base to be positioned in a radial plane of said tubular container; said rib having a linear distal edge parallel to said base; means for securing said container bracket to said container;

a support bracket comprising confronting clamping portions, each defining an elongated groove for en closing a portion of a tubular member of a supporting structure and each defining an elongated narrow clamping flange; said confronting clamping flanges having at least one pair of aligned holes; and bolt and wing nut means extending through said holes for clamping said confronting portions to said tubular member;

said support bracket clamping flanges defining an elongated slot disposed in a radial plane of the supporting tubular member to receive said container bracket rib; said rib having at least one elongated mounting slot opening adjacent to said distal edge and extending generally parallel to said distal edge; and said slot being configured to accommodate a bolt means of said support bracket, whereby said container bracket is secured to said support bracket and is readily disengaged therefrom.

2. A carrier assembly as set forth in claim 1 said container bracket base comprising a pad defining a cylindrical wall for engagement with the cylindrical wall of the container; and adhesive means bonding said container bracket pad to said container; said container bracket rib being then disposed in a radial plane of the container.

3. A carrier assembly as set forth in claim 1 said means for securing said container bracket to said container comprising a double faced pressure sensitive adhesive web for bonding said bracket base member to said container housing, and a pair of straps encircling said housing and confining said container bracket base member.

4. A carrier assembly as set forth in claim 1 an elongated rack disposed in said container having an elongated spine and a foot; said spine having a length corresponding to the interior length of said container, and said foot disposed transverse to said spine for engagement with a beverage container; and the end of said spine remote from said foot defining handle means adapted to be grasped, for sliding the rack relative to the container.

5. A carrier assembly as set forth in claim 1 said container and said container bracket defining a subassembly readily disengageable from said support bracket; and said container bracket rib having an elongated slot disposed parallel to the axis of said container housing, defining a hand slot for carrying said subassembly disengaged from said support bracket.

6. A carrier assembly as set forth in claim 1 said container bracket rib having a plurality of transverse holes; and resilient molded grommets secured in said holes dimensioned to receive and contain the shanks of golf tees.

7. A carrier assembly as set forth in claim 1 said support bracket having elongated low rib means parallel to and adjacent to said clamping grooves;

a ball holder comprising an elongated hollow cylindrical body having a longitudinal slot at one side and having integral elongated low rib means projecting from the opposite side of the body in a generally radial plane;

with said ball holder rib means being configured to coact with said support bracket rib means for securing said ball holder in parallel relation to said support bracket close to the support member;

and said ball holder body having means at the ends thereof normally retaining balls therein.

8. A carrier assembly as set forth in claim 7 said ball retaining means comprising tension springs bridging the slot at each end of the ball holder body adapted to be displaced for the placing and removing of balls.

9. A carrier assembly as set forth in claim 7 said support bracket comprising a pair of confronting clamping members, each including an intermediate cylindrical portion defining said longitudinal groove and adjacent planar flanges;

a first pair of confronting flanges defining said bracket rib means coacting with the ball holder rib means for securing the ball holder to said support bracket; and said coacting rib means having aligned holes for accommodating screw means for securing said ball holder to said support bracket and for retaining said support bracket on a supporting tubular member;

a second pair of confronting flanges defining said clamping flanges and slot for accommodating said container bracket rib; said clamping flanges having at least two pairs of aligned holes for accommodating two bolt means for clamping said bracket flanges; and said container bracket rib having at least two mounting slots opening to said distal edge for accommodating said two bolt means, and each having portions extending generally parallel to said distal edge.

10. A carrier assembly as set forth in claim 1 said support bracket clamping flanges having two pairs of aligned holes spaced longitudinally from each other for accommodating two bolt means; said container bracket rib having two elongated mounting slots opening adjacent to said distal edge, the slot opening being spaced longitudinally to correspond to the longitudinal spacing of said clamping flange holes; and said slots extending generally parallel to said distal edge in the same direction from respective openings.

11. A carrier assembly as set forth in claim 10 said container bracket mounting slots being slightly inclined relative to said distal edge, for camming said distal edge against a supporting tubular member in response to endwise movement. 

